Wide (Multitouch?) Touchpad for Apple Laptops

MacRumors · Aug 9, 2007, 10:27 AM

Apple filed for a continuation on a 2004 patent about a "wide touchpad" for a laptop.

The patent application, however, now gets an interesting perspective with the recent interest in multi-touch technology and the Multitouch dictionary described last week.

Apple notes in the patent application that as notebook screens become larger, there tends to be a larger space on the bottom half of the housing. Typically the trackpad is placed in the center to avoid unintentional taps and to provide space for palm rests.

They propose implementing an enlarged or wide touchpad which "may be a cursor control device having the capabilities of conventional computer mouse devices, such as the ability to point, drag, tap, and double tap objects on a graphical user interface, as well as more general purposes such as scrolling, panning, zooming, and rotating images on display screen."

The touchpad would be located in the area normally reserved for the palm rests and be intelligent enough to ignore unintentional contact (when being used as a palm rest).

Fingerworks, the multi-touch company that Apple bought in 2005, offered several multi-touch gesture pads and input devices before they ceased operations.

When questioned about the possibility of a multi-touch Mac, Jobs replied that it "doesn't make a lot of sense right now on the Mac" and they'd classify it as a "research project".

Article Link

lexus · Aug 9, 2007, 10:28 AM

That would be very nice.

PlaceofDis · Aug 9, 2007, 10:30 AM

makes sense. and could be incorporated into a keyboard design too methinks.

mainstreetmark · Aug 9, 2007, 10:31 AM

well, at least they didn't waste too much money on an artist to sketch that up.

syklee26 · Aug 9, 2007, 10:32 AM

i would have arthritis all over my hands and wrist using that. you have to hold your hand high to type on that thing.

what Apple should do is to use swivel style monitor with multitouch or something like that. (of course it is called tablet notebook)

megfilmworks · Aug 9, 2007, 10:32 AM

Much better than a trackpad

zombitronic · Aug 9, 2007, 10:37 AM

With all these touch patents, they must be really into their "research project." Can't wait 'till MWSF '08.

imac/cheese · Aug 9, 2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainstreetmark

well, at least they didn't waste too much money on an artist to sketch that up.

I was thinking the exact same thing. What is up with the sketch?

juanm · Aug 9, 2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syklee26

i would have arthritis all over my hands and wrist using that. you have to hold your hand high to type on that thing.

From the article:
"The touchpad would be located in the area normally reserved for the palm rests and be intelligent enough to ignore unintentional contact (when being used as a palm rest)"

psychofreak · Aug 9, 2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syklee26

i would have arthritis all over my hands and wrist using that. you have to hold your hand high to type on that thing.

what Apple should do is to use swivel style monitor with multitouch or something like that. (of course it is called tablet notebook)

Erm...

Quote:

The touchpad would [...] be intelligent enough to ignore unintentional contact (when being used as a palm rest).

johnee · Aug 9, 2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainstreetmark

well, at least they didn't waste too much money on an artist to sketch that up.

Are you kidding me? that drawing cost a fortune since it's part of a patent.
there are designers which specialize in patent drawings and charge a lot of money.

samh004 · Aug 9, 2007, 11:07 AM

I'm not sure, while that is a very good idea and holds a lot of potential, it would look weird. I would have to take time to get used to it I think.

Quote:

Originally Posted by syklee26

(of course it is called tablet notebook)

Where in "tablet notebook" is "mac" ?

Fabio_gsilva · Aug 9, 2007, 11:08 AM

I feel it is an amazing upgrade to all apple laptops, when implemented.

This will shift the way everybody interact with laptops soon, and I woul jump in the boat as soon as possible!!!

PDE · Aug 9, 2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juan Moro

From the article:
"The touchpad would be located in the area normally reserved for the palm rests and be intelligent enough to ignore unintentional contact (when being used as a palm rest)"

I used to own one of fingerwork's touchstream keyboards which allows all input gestures on the same space as the keyboard. It works very well since the keyboard recognises fingers vs. palms. Using a keyboard without keys was something that took getting used to (mainly because I like to pound my keys and pounding on a flat surface hurts), but once you get a hang of it, it's very fluid and comfortable. I doubt it's something that Apple would use on a portable though. Using the entire space as a multitouch surface would be amazing! I can't wait!

fastbite · Aug 9, 2007, 11:15 AM

It would be great. Touch screen for the iMac or anything else seems silly to me, your arms would get tired etc -- but on a laptop, it makes total sense.

Darkroom · Aug 9, 2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

When questioned about the possibility of a multi-touch Mac, Jobs replied that it "doesn't make a lot of sense right now on the Mac" and they'd classify it as a "research project".

i'm sure jobs was referring to multi-touch displays... but apple's notebook line of computers already has gestures built in to the trackpad with 2 fingers to scroll, so i'm assuming they will add additional gestures into the trackpad.

DOUGHNUT · Aug 9, 2007, 11:34 AM

Also, Apple could easily release an add-on external trackpad like device (instead of using a mouse) that can enable gesture control for iMacs and Mac Pros (as well as older Mac notebooks), so that is always an option. Unless used in a "MacTablet", having multi-touch on the screen won't make any sense.

PDE · Aug 9, 2007, 11:37 AM

This is what I have. I'm sure Apple could improve on the design! In fact, Fingerworks had a really nice design that they were planning to release (I think it was with aluminum actually), when they were abruptly bought up by Apple and all their products discontinued.

thejadedmonkey · Aug 9, 2007, 11:38 AM

Did anyone else notice that the mouse button in the picture actually has 2 buttons?

Clive At Five · Aug 9, 2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkroom

i'm sure jobs was referring to multi-touch displays... but apple's notebook line of computers already has gestures built in to the trackpad with 2 fingers to scroll, so i'm assuming they will add additional gestures into the trackpad.

Thank you SOMEONE for remembering this. Let me reiterate a little louder so that everyone see this:

APPLE'S CURRENT TRACKPADS ARE ALREADY "MULTITOUCH!"

This patent is basically describing a wide trackpad.

Although, it would only take a software (maybe firmware?) update to add other gestures to the mix.

-Clive

~Shard~ · Aug 9, 2007, 11:43 AM

Cool to see, but not that surprising really. Mutli-touch will be the input method of the future, it's just a matter of time. As Jobs said though, it's just not a feasible solution right now for an entire machine. You can rest assured it's in the works though and in Apple's labs.

samh004 · Aug 9, 2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Did anyone else notice that the mouse button in the picture actually has 2 buttons?

Your right.

The screen also has a full width hinge, you know what that means

miketcool · Aug 9, 2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samh004

Your right.

The screen also has a full width hinge, you know what that means

PBG5 on Tues!

Proxy sensors R cool, thanks internetPHONE!

Maccus Aurelius · Aug 9, 2007, 12:08 PM

Built-in Wacom clone for Macbook Pros!

*throws bottle of Scotch in trash*

e12a · Aug 9, 2007, 12:17 PM

the question is, do i have to keep lifting my wrists to use it as a mouse? or can i keep one wrist rested while the other uses the trackpad...

Aug 9, 2007, 10:27 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Wide (Multitouch?) Touchpad for Apple Laptops Apple filed for a continuation on a 2004 patent about a "wide touchpad" for a laptop. The patent application, however, now gets an interesting perspective with the recent interest in multi-touch technology and the Multitouch dictionary described last week. Apple notes in the patent application that as notebook screens become larger, there tends to be a larger space on the bottom half of the housing. Typically the trackpad is placed in the center to avoid unintentional taps and to provide space for palm rests. They propose implementing an enlarged or wide touchpad which "may be a cursor control device having the capabilities of conventional computer mouse devices, such as the ability to point, drag, tap, and double tap objects on a graphical user interface, as well as more general purposes such as scrolling, panning, zooming, and rotating images on display screen." The touchpad would be located in the area normally reserved for the palm rests and be intelligent enough to ignore unintentional contact (when being used as a palm rest). Fingerworks, the multi-touch company that Apple bought in 2005, offered several multi-touch gesture pads and input devices before they ceased operations. When questioned about the possibility of a multi-touch Mac, Jobs replied that it "doesn't make a lot of sense right now on the Mac" and they'd classify it as a "research project". Article Link

Aug 9, 2007, 10:28 AM	#2
lexus macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Depends Greatly On The Weather	That would be very nice. __________________ Why?

Aug 9, 2007, 10:31 AM	#4
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	well, at least they didn't waste too much money on an artist to sketch that up. __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

Aug 9, 2007, 10:32 AM	#6
megfilmworks macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sherman Oaks	Much better than a trackpad __________________ 17" MacBook Pro 2.33 - Dual G5 w/ Pro Tools iPod Gen1 - Nano Gen1 - iPhone Gen1 - iPhone 3G DA42 G1000 Gen1 BE G58 (2008)

Aug 9, 2007, 11:08 AM	#13
Fabio_gsilva macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: São Paulo - Brasil	Ultracool!!! Again! I feel it is an amazing upgrade to all apple laptops, when implemented. This will shift the way everybody interact with laptops soon, and I woul jump in the boat as soon as possible!!! __________________ "MacBook Pro, 2.16, coreduo"

Aug 9, 2007, 10:30 AM	#3
PlaceofDis macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago.	makes sense. and could be incorporated into a keyboard design too methinks.

Aug 9, 2007, 10:32 AM	#5
syklee26 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2005	i would have arthritis all over my hands and wrist using that. you have to hold your hand high to type on that thing. what Apple should do is to use swivel style monitor with multitouch or something like that. (of course it is called tablet notebook)

Aug 9, 2007, 10:37 AM	#7
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	With all these touch patents, they must be really into their "research project." Can't wait 'till MWSF '08.

Aug 9, 2007, 11:15 AM	#15
fastbite macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London	It would be great. Touch screen for the iMac or anything else seems silly to me, your arms would get tired etc -- but on a laptop, it makes total sense. __________________ If the movie is a turkey, stuff it! http://www.turkeyornot.com/

Aug 9, 2007, 11:34 AM	#17
DOUGHNUT macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006	Also, Apple could easily release an add-on external trackpad like device (instead of using a mouse) that can enable gesture control for iMacs and Mac Pros (as well as older Mac notebooks), so that is always an option. Unless used in a "MacTablet", having multi-touch on the screen won't make any sense.

Aug 9, 2007, 11:37 AM	#18
PDE macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2005	This is what I have. I'm sure Apple could improve on the design! In fact, Fingerworks had a really nice design that they were planning to release (I think it was with aluminum actually), when they were abruptly bought up by Apple and all their products discontinued. Attached Thumbnails

Aug 9, 2007, 11:38 AM	#19
thejadedmonkey macrumors 68040 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	Did anyone else notice that the mouse button in the picture actually has 2 buttons? __________________ Mac Mini G4 • MacBook Pro • iPod Nano "Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement. - Mark Twain

Aug 9, 2007, 11:43 AM	#21
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	Cool to see, but not that surprising really. Mutli-touch will be the input method of the future, it's just a matter of time. As Jobs said though, it's just not a feasible solution right now for an entire machine. You can rest assured it's in the works though and in Apple's labs. __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

Aug 9, 2007, 12:08 PM	#24
Maccus Aurelius macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY	Built-in Wacom clone for Macbook Pros! throws bottle of Scotch in trash __________________ Bill: "W-what's that?" > Steve: "It's an iHouse!" > Bill: "But it's got no windows." > Steve: "Exactly! Hahahaha...hahahahaha!"

Aug 9, 2007, 12:17 PM	#25
e12a macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2006	the question is, do i have to keep lifting my wrists to use it as a mouse? or can i keep one wrist rested while the other uses the trackpad... __________________ [inquiring about MBP types]"we either have the regular, or the ultimate edition." -Apple sales rep "could you just tell me the specs?"

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